Portulaca plant named &#39;DOPORCUPRASP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Portulaca  plant named ‘Doporcuprasp’, characterized by its upright to low spreading growth habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and large dark red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Portulaca oleracea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPORCUPRASP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant, botanically known as Portulaca oleracea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Doporcuprasp’.

The new Portulaca plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new upright to spreading Portulaca plants with numerous large attractive flowers.

The new Portulaca plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany in July, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Portulaca oleracea identified as code number RR-0058, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Portulaca oleracea identified as code number RR-0065, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Portulaca plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Portulaca plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2017, has shown that the unique features of this new Portulaca plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Portulaca have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Doporcuprasp’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Doporcuprasp’ as a new and distinct Portulaca plant:

-   -   1. Upright to low spreading growth habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large dark red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Portulaca can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Portulaca differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Portulaca are more upright than and not as         trailing as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Portulaca have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Portulaca and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have dark pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Portulaca can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Portulaca differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Portulaca are more upright than and not as         trailing as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Portulaca have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Portulaca and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Portulaca can also be compared to plants of the Portulaca hybrida ‘Duecupcheba’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,809. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Portulaca differ primarily from plants of ‘Duecupcheba’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Portulaca are more upright than and not as         trailing as plants of ‘Duecupcheba’.     -   2. Plants of the new Portulaca have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Duecupcheba’.     -   3. Plants of the new Portulaca and ‘Duecupcheba’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Duecupcheba’ have bright pink and         yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Portulaca plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Portulaca plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doporcuprasp’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Portulaca production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 20 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Portulaca oleracea ‘Doporcuprasp’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Portulaca             oleracea identified as code number RR-0058, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Portulaca             oleracea identified as code number RR-0065, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 159C in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to low spreading plant             habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit about 200 to 250             lateral branches potentially developing per plant; pinching             enhances branching potential.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 80 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 21 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 146C; at the internodes, close             to N199A.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to N200A and 178A; at the             internodes, close to N199A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape, developing leaves.—Elliptic.         -   Shape, fully expanded leaves.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; fleshy, succulent; semi-glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C overlain with             close to 79C; venation, close to 150C. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B overlain with close to             59A; venation, close to 150C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single rotate flowers; freely flowering             habit with about 130 to 150 flower buds and flowers per             plant; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about             twelve weeks after planting; in the garden, plants flower             continuously from spring until autumn in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one day on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144C and 47B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five petals in             a single whorl. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 51A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 38A and             18C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 60B; color does             not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 52B and 56D; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically two fused into a             tubular calyx. Calyx length: About 8.5 mm. Calyx diameter:             About 5 mm. Length: About 8.5 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color,             developing and fully developed, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per             flower: About 40 to 60. Filament length: About 4 mm to 5 mm.             Filament color: Close to 167A. Anther shape: Oval, bi-lobed.             Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 23A.             Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 23A.             Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length: About             5 mm. Style color: Close to 170B. Stigma color: Close to             163A. Ovary color: Close to 144A. Fruits: Quantity produced             per plant: About 700 to 1,800 during the flowering season.             Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5.2 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 146D. Seeds: Quantity per flower:             About 12 to 40.Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 202B and 200B. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Portulaca have been observed     to have good garden performance, to tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 7° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zone 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Portulaca have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Portulaca plants to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Portulaca plant named ‘Doporcuprasp’ as illustrated and described. 